Azernews.Az

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has submitted its Third Party Access Exemption (TPA) applications in all three host countries - Albania, Greece and Italy, TAP statement says.

Third Party Exemption will allow TAP AG to enter into long term ship-or-pay Gas Transportation Agreements (GTAs) with the shippers of Shah Deniz II gas in Azerbaijan.

Kjetil Tungland, Managing Director of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, commented that the fact that TAP has applied for its TPA exemptions in all three host countries further demonstrates its continued progress and strong commitment to construct major new gas infrastructure in Europe.

He said TAP’s realisation will be a major step forward in opening the Southern Gas Corridor, thereby diversifying supply and enhancing energy security for Europe.

"It is my firm belief that TAP is able to offer the Shah Deniz Consortium the most economic and reliable solution for the export of their gas," said Tungland.

The statement also says that the TAP project’s schedule is designed so that TAP is ready to commence pipeline operations in time for first gas export west of Turkey (expected in 2017/18) from Shah Deniz.

The TAP pipeline project, which is one of South Gas Corridor projects, envisages gas exports from the Caspian Sean and Middle East regions to the European market.

The 520km-long pipeline will start in Greece near Thessaloniki, cross Albania and the Adriatic Sea and come ashore in Italy near Brindisi, allowing gas to flow directly from the Caspian basin into European markets. The shareholders of the project are the Swiss EGL Company (42.5 percent), Norwegian Statoil (42.5 percent) and German E.ON Ruhrgas (15 percent). Initial pipeline capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters per year, maximum - 20 billion. The length of the pipeline is 520 kilometers.

The gas produced within the second phase of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz Field is considered to be a main gas source for the Southern Gas Corridor project, in particular the TAP project.

The consortium expects concrete proposals from various pipeline projects, including TAP, by Oct. 1, based on which a transportation route will be chosen by late this year.

The South Corridor is a priority EU energy project diversifying energy supply routes and sources and increasing EU energy security. The Southern Corridor includes the Nabucco gas pipeline, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), White Stream, and ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline).